Archive | February, 2013

INDIVIDUALS AND COMPANIES ENCOURAGED TO SAVE MONEY

BY PAYING DELINQUENT INCOME TAXES DURING AMNESTY PROGRAM

Individuals or companies that owe income taxes to the City of Detroit can pay their back taxes without penalty from now through February 16 under a tax amnesty program. Anyone who has not filed an income tax return or has an outstanding balance for tax years 2011 and prior can take part in the program.

Under the City’s tax code, all Detroit residents who earn more than $600 in a calendar year are required to pay income taxes regardless of where they work. In addition, all non-residents who spend any time working in Detroit and earn more than $600 in a calendar year are required to pay income taxes to the City regardless of where their employer is located.

Delinquent tax returns can be filed in person or mailed to the Coleman A. Young Municipal Center, 2 Woodward Avenue – Suite 130, Detroit, MI 48226, with the full amount due. The office is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and on Saturdays from 9 until noon.

For more information and tax forms, go to www.detroitmi.gov/incometax or call (313) 224-3315.

DETROIT CITY COUNCIL TO HOST COMMUNITY MEETING FEBRUARY 19

The Detroit City Council will host an evening community meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 19, from 7 – 8:30 p.m. in District 1 at Christian Fellowship of Love Baptist Church, 22400 Grand River.

All residents and community or neighborhood organizations in the area are encouraged to attend the meeting. Representatives from City departments will also be on hand to receive complaints and explain departmental plans and policies.

An interpreter for the hearing impaired will be available if requested at least 48 hours in advance. To arrange for an interpreter, call 224-6376. For information about the evening community meetings or the process to submit questions and concerns, call (313) 224-6376.

CITY BUILDING DEPARTMENT PROPOSES NEW PLUMBING FEE SCHEDULE

The public is invited to comment on the 2013 proposed plumbing permit fee schedule from the Buildings, Safety Engineering & Environmental Department (BSEED) at a public hearing on Feb. 28 at 10 a.m. in Room 408, 4th floor, Coleman A. Young Municipal Center, 2 Woodward Avenue, Detroit, 48226.

The proposed schedule is a revision of the 2009 plumbing permit fee schedule. The proposed effective date of the new fee schedule is April 1. Copies of the proposed 2013 plumbing fee schedule and the 2009 fee schedule are available on the City’s Web site at www.detroitmi.gov/bseed or by calling 212-224-3202.

Oral or written comments may be made in person at the hearing or submitted in writing via mail or facsimile no later than 4:30 p.m., February 14 by:

Mail: Buildings, Safety Engineering and Environmental Department

2 Woodward Avenue, Detroit, Michigan 48226

Fax: (313) 224-1467

For more information, please contact Helen Broughton, Business Advocate II, at 313-628-2459 or broughtonh@detroitmi.gov.

DETROITERS ENCOURAGED TO TAKE WEATHER SPOTTER TRAINING CLASS ON APRIL 24

The National Weather Service is offering a severe weather spotter training class to teach Detroiters how to accurately observe weather conditions and report them. The free, two-hour training is scheduled for Wednesday, April 24, from 7 – 9 p.m. at Gilmore Center – One Ford Place, 6071 Second Avenue, Detroit, MI 48202.

The class will focus on: the role of the spotter; thunderstorm development; tornado classifications; flash floods; severe weather safety tips; and reporting severe weather. Informational handouts also will be distributed.

The class is being coordinated by the City of Detroit Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Management. To register or for information, contact Scott Berkseth at 313-596-1714 or berkseths@detroitmi.gov.

BELLE ISLE AQUARIUM HAS RE-OPENED

The Belle Isle Aquarium reopened last fall and is free and open to the public every Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

For organizers Jennifer Boardman and Vance Patrick of the Belle Isle Conservancy, and fish curator Gary Balduc, the grand re-opening was the culmination of sever al years of work.

For more information, call (313) 331-7760 or (313) 628-2081.

WTD10 DETROIT CABLE OFFERS NEW PROGRAMMING

Check out some of the engaging and informative original programming on the City of Detroit’s government access channel WTD10.

Access Health & Fitness: One new show weekly

Healthy lifestyle — focusing on those health-conscious viewers who want to improve their quality of life. Host: Renee Ferguson.

Making Your Money Work:

One new 30-minute show weekly

Finance — focusing on the grass roots financial issues facing Detroit’s families today. Host: Gail Perry Mason.

Parking Wars: The series from A&E follows City of Detroit parking enforcement officers as they ticket and tow vehicles in Detroit and their interactions with motorists.

ORIGINAL SPECIALS

Tribute to St. Cecilia’s Gym: “Where Stars are Made, Not Born”

The 30-minute documentary focuses on St. Cecilia, the westside gym in Detroit, that is legendary for attracting top-notch basketball players from high school to professional, male and female. Shortly after the 1967 riots, Sam Washington organized a summer league to bring the community together and keep kids off the streets. The names of athletes who participated in his program reads like a list of Who’s Who of basketball, including Detroit Mayor Dave Bing, NBA Hall of Famer and the first professional to play at St. Cecilia.

For more information about WTD10 and for a complete programming schedule, please go to the City’s Web site at www.detroitmi.gov/mediaservices.

DETROIT POLICE DEPARTMENT REOPENS MINI-STATIONS

The Detroit Police Department recently reopened seven mini-stations and plans to open six additional mini-stations by March. The following seven mini-stations have reopened:

· Belmont Shopping Center, 20500 Conant St., in the 11th police precinct

· Butzel Family Center, 7737 Kercheval St., in the 7th police precinct

· Riverbend Plaza, 13206 Jefferson Ave., in the 5th police precinct

· Mack and Alter, 14700 Mack Ave., in the 9th police precinct

· Virginia Park Community, 8671 Rosa Parks Blvd., in the 10th police precinct

· Bel-Air Shopping Center, 95540 E. 8 Mile Road, in the 11th police precinct

· Northwest Activities Center, 18100 Meyers Road, in the 12th police precinct

A permanent officer, a police reservist and a community volunteer are assigned to each mini-station, which are open Monday through Friday, from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. DPD plans to open six additional mini-stations, including a mini-station at the Rosa Parks Transit Center, 1310 Cass Ave. (1st Precinct) in mid-February.

Services offered at a mini station include:

· Initiating and organizing Neighborhood Watch programs, radio patrols and neighborhood foot patrols

· Crime prevention tips and literature

· Interaction with a dedicated mini-station officer

· Crime reporting and completing citizen incident reports

· Recording phone requests for service and complaints

· Hosting community meetings